Take a chance is what I say.  I’m not one to live dangerously out there in the world full of people and tangible consequence…but….at the video store I am the movie watcher’s equivalent to Evil Knievel!  Oh yes my friends and foes I walk through the isles on the prowl and go where no one else dares to tread…the single DVD release you’ve never even heard of.  And although the back cover blurb is poorly written and almost always dissuades my better judgement I say nay, nay to playing it safe…I rent the lone release and TAKE A CHANCE!

Which brings me to what will be our weekly TAKE A CHANCE REVIEW.  This week’s gem is a British crime flick called The Crew.  To my pleasant surprise (and to the surprise of my pleasant company while watching) this film turned out to be nothing short of fantastic.  The storyline, acting, and directing were really strong in this film.  I think we’ve all become accustomed to a cheeky version of the crime film so wonderfully portrayed by Guy Ritchie that we take for granted the gritty reality of crime in the UK.  This film by Adrian Vitoria is funny at times in an uncomfortable sort of way because it’s not meant to be and the rest of it makes you uncomfortable and intrigued for very different reasons all of which you will simply have to see for yourselves. 

What I will say with out hesitation is that the pace of the film is perfect.  The violence is portrayed in a way that is human if that makes any sense to anybody.  We often have the image of bad men doing bad things with little if any remorse.  This film shows a wide array of supposed "bad men" and shows that not all react to their lives of crime in similar fashions nor do they deal with the stress of said lives in exactly the same ways.  What you find by the end of this film is that there’s as many versions of the criminal as there are of the regular Joe which brings us to a very strange and unwilling conclusion: there is no difference between the criminal and the regular Joe.  We all do what we feel we can and must…when I say we I mean they as my Evil Knievel is limited to the isles of video rental facilities. 

Stephen Graham you will remember as Tommy The Gun from Snatch and you should note that his rendition of Franner in this film is the complete antithesis to Tommy in Snatch.  Scot Williams plays Ged in this (the crew boss) and his performance is very strong and seducing at times not that I mind saying so.  Also, one guy I saw in this and kept thinking "I know you" not in a "I think you went to my high school" sort of way but more in a "I think I’ve seen you in another film" sort of way…and that guy was….Kenny Doughty .  Who is Kenny Doughty?  In this he plays Ratter the ambitious psychotic criminal but back in the day he played Andy MacDowell’s love interest in Crush.  Another versatile actor in this lot.  So if sexy boys, violence, drugs, guns, and a good old crime story don’t suit you I really can’t help you.  My advice: take a chance, you just might like it.

Gangster Exchange is officially on my list of super cool action movies.  I got to see it at the Mississauga Independent Film Festival  2009 and was totally blown away.  This movie is original, has a great look, an amazing sound, and is packed with punches (literally), and is accompanied by a killer soundtrack.  I was watching and just relishing in the quality of the production and story telling.  I sat there and felt vindicated by this film thinking "I’ve been right this whole time…Canadian directors can make kick ass movies about something other than snow and crying."  I don’t care I said it!  I’m so glad Dean Bajramovic (the writer/director of Gangster Exchange) made this movie because it’s a very important example for Canadian filmmakers short on money but long on talent and creativity.  This film proves that talent and perseverance can win the battle with mediocrity even if that battle seems impossible.  The audience reaction to the film was self-evident in the long applause after the film along with the excitement and constant praise of the audience during the
Q&A.  

Gangster Exchange is a film about "Guns, thugs, and toilets made of drugs" as the tag line promises.  Essentially what you have is an east meets west of the old world in the "new world" context within the sub terrain world of organised crime.  The film starts out with the difficulty in getting heroin out of Japan and into America undetected…solution….chemically alter it and voila a heroin toilet.  The problem seems to be solved but then the movie would be over and that wouldn’t be very good.  So what happens?  What always happens when people who deal in the dark shadows and fringes of the law get greedy: the shit hits the fan.  Murphy’s Law ensues turning this seemingly cut and dry story about Okuza and Bosnian mobsters into an insanely action packed "on the run" movie that affectionately slips in and out of a buddy comedy.  How is this possible you might ask?  The writing and directing genius of Dean Bajramovic and his killer cast.  The odd couple find themselves in loads of trouble looking for a chemist to process the dope so they can sell it.  After dodging some bullets and getting hit by one or two the Okuza gangster and Bosnian enforcer turned odd couple finds a sexy chemist named Kenny who works her magic; the toilet is no more and the heroin is in tact.  I will tell you no more as it would spoil the rest…and I’ve left out enough details for you to sit in amazement when you finally get around to watching this bad boy.  

If I had to describe this movie experience in metaphoric terms I’d have to say it’s a real thrill ride from beginning to end.  It’s got a great look to it courtesy Kevin C.W. Wong
(Cinematographer) and a wicked soundtrack scored by Whitney Baker.  I hope we see a lot more from Dean in the years to come as I am eagerly looking forward to all his future projects.  I’ve told you a bit about the film but below you can get a feel for the man himself.  I got to interview Dean at MIFF and he is extremely funny, articulate, and a really down to earth guy.  

AnnieG: Hi I’m AnnieG and I’m here with…

Dean: Dean Bajramovic the Writer/Director of Gangster Exchange.

AnnieG: Tell me a bit about your film, uhm, just a quick synopsis.

Dean: The tagline is "Guns, thugs, and toilets made of drugs". It’s about a couple of Yakuza dudes that come over from Tokyo with a toilet made of heroin and their smuggling it to New York City where they meet up with the Bosnian mob and of course everything goes haywire. This crazy little cyber punk yakuza gangster and a giant muscle-mountain Bosnian thug enforcer type; they team up and steal the toilet go on the run from all their gangs. There’s snipers, there’s shootouts, there’s guns, there’s thugs, and there’s toilets made of drugs. And that’s the movie.

AnnieG: Excellent. How did this story come to you?

Dean: Uh well, it’s actually a documentary that I’d done originally about my own life as a yakuza gangster. No, I’m kidding. (laughs)

AnnieG: (laughing)

Dean: No, I’m joking. How did it come to me? Well they say you should write what you know so I lived in Japan for a couple of years so that’s where the Japanese angle comes from. My family’s Bosnian so that’s where the Bosnian angle comes from. I read an article actually about how the Columbian gangs were smuggling cocaine in different kinds of ceramic. They were encasing it in to ceramic and they were putting it into bathtubs and sinks and stuff like that and I just thought a toilet would be kind of funny. It’s kind of that Cheech and Chong vehicle where they smuggle you know the van, they drive the van across the border made of weed and I thought a guy carrying a toilet around would be hilarious. So that’s kind of where it came from.

AnnieG: How is it you found out about MIFF and what is it that brought you to this festival?

Dean: Right. I met Matt and Jeff at TIFF. The Toronto Film Festival which s this other insignificant festival compared to the power of MIFF really but uhh (chuckles). No, I’m kidding TIFF was great as well. We met at TIFF, I was not in TIFF I don’t they were either but anyway we were Toronto based guys, Toronto area based guys, and we just started talking at one of the parties and we just sort of talked and I heard about their festival and wanted to apply and they were kind enough to have our film here.

AnnieG: What’s the experience been like at this festival? Give everybody a rundown of what it’s been like at MIFF.

Dean: Okay. The blogging has been sub par. But other than that.

AnnieG: (laughing out loud)

Dean: (laughing) Other than that it’s been great. If there’s one Achilles heal of the festival its weak blogging but it’s been. (laughs). No (laughs) everything’s been great, everyone’s really friendly, I really enjoyed myself, there’s been some great movies. I was at a couple of workshops that were really useful as well. I’ve got one film done but still lots to learn always. What else can I say? Everyone’s been super friendly, super nice, and I’ve had a good time here so far. There’s been some good movies and I’ve just been sitting around and watching movies all day which is my idea of heaven really so there you go.

AnnieG: Let us know, you got into the festival and this is your first feature am I correct?

Dean: Yes this is my first feature.

AnnieG: So tell people who think this festival’s inaccessible, tell them what you feel about it. Is it accessible to indie filmmakers?

Dean: Oh definitely. This festival is 100% accessible to indie filmmakers. I mean I understand where people are coming from where a lot of the larger festivals are very difficult to get into; a festival like Sundance or TIFF or Cannes or something like that there’s a very difficult procedure of getting into those festivals even ones that are labelled as independent festivals have gotten to a size where getting in is a complicated procedure. But, that’s certainly not the case for MIFF and apart from a couple of the organizers who are pricks I don’t (laughs) yeah, no, (laughs as a Campagna brother informs him films are starting). No, I’m kidding Jeff just walked in. This festival is one that is very accessible and they seem to be great at promoting local Canadian talent which is spectacular.

AnnieG: Lastly, what does a festival like this mean
for you?

Dean: Well, a festival like this is great because we do have to get our movies out there and a film like ours is not going to have a theatrical release. I mean we’re not going to be competing with Transformers or The Proposal or whatever. So it’s great for us to be able to reach an audience and be able to get people to participate in the movie and want to see the movie; to give them a forum to come and see it and to get out there. I mean this is one of the ways we can really get our film out to the audience and hope that it finds an audience. I think festivals like this are really, really important to filmmakers like myself.

For more information about Gangster Exchange check out the films website @ http://www.gangsterexchange.com/  The website is full of info about the cast and creators of this screen gem. 

© all photographs provided by AnnieG and all related media is the property of Gothic Raygun Pictures and their respective associates/copyright holders. This is a transcribed interview conducted by AnnieG at the 2009 Mississauga Independent Film Festival. This work may not be transmitted via the Internet, or reproduced in any other way, without written consent from AnnieGMovies.

Released: 17 April 1998 Running Time: 106 min. Director: Peter O’Fallon Starring: Mark Watson, Christopher Walken, Denis Leary, Nina Siemaszko, Jay Della, Henry Thomas, Sean Patrick Flannery

People can say what ever they want but the fact is that Christopher Walken is the cat’s ass, dog’s balls, and what ever other vulgar euphemism for great you want to use, when it comes to acting.  This guy is sitting in a chair for 85% of his on screen appearance and some how he manages to hypnotize with every frame he graces.  Everyone in this picture is great but I have my favourites and we’ll get to them soon enough.  I’m going to start out by saying if you haven’t watched this DVD then you should because there’s no excuse for this kind of behaviour.  Some call it a cult classic and B movie gone good: I think they are all idiots because this movie is amazing regardless of it’s release details, and I’m going to break down for you why.

In 1997 if this movie had hit theatres with Leonardo Di Caprio in one of the main roles it would have had a huge theatrical release and it would have done extremely well commercially.  It had a lot of familiar faces and a plethora of talent just not the kind the studio wanted to market.  We are no longer (nor have been for a while) in the days where a movie can hit theatres and run for a year.  Today if it doesn’t do well from the get go it gets yanked and put to DVD rather fast (or in the good old days to VHS).  I really don’t prescribe to the notion that straight/soon to DVD makes for a bad movie; sometimes it makes for a lack of vision and patience on the part of invested parties.   In the end it’s a business and you can’t tell the "bosses" what to do on their dime.

The story line is great and in a lot of ways it’s a "who done it" storyline but in reality it’s much more.  This movie is about relationships:  assessing them, valuing them, abusing them, understanding them, and finally profiting or busting because of them.  Film is the quintessence of the cause effect theory every frame is connected to the next and a catalyst for movement not only in theory but in actual materialization.  Even a flashback is a step forward in films despite the temporal clash in principal.  So relationships having beginnings, middles and endings are perfect for the platform to push this story forward.  In essence a few rich kids get the idea to kidnap an ex gangster and hold him for ransom to get one of the rich boy’s sister back from shady individuals who are also holding her for ransom.  The friends are a metaphor for all the shades of grey in upper class living and although a direct contrast to Charlie (Walken) their world isn’t so different from his world.   Both worlds rely on relationships.  The world of these youngsters rely on them sticking to one another, their history as friends, and their word.  Interestingly enough, they need the same from Charlie: they need his contacts, his relationships, his past bonds to people in order to get what they need.  Soon enough you learn that on either side of the spectrum people’s relationships and loyalties are tested.

Reading some of the reviews about this film I was really disappointed.  Films that have been far poorer and with far lower production value have received great reviews from some of the same critics I was reading.  A the end of the day a good story is a good story regardless of the fact that you may or may not like an actor.  I have my personal favourites and folks that I really don’t care for.  But, when a film is good, it’s good.  And this film is.

The plan devised goes terribly wrong as these kids learn paper planned living doesn’t work out when dealing with criminals like Charlie.   Eventually the relationships deteriorate and betrayal and the abuse of trust has everyone pointing fingers.  By the very end we all find out as Charlie does that two worlds have more in common than they seem to from the start.  In the end everyone gets what they deserve and the audience is fully satisfied because they like Charlie are the wiser. 

This film was something I watched when I wasn’t in the mood for it–big mistake.  I forgot to return it and decided to watch it again.  On my second viewing it grew on me some, but, not quite enough.  The film aesthetically is really nice.  The art direction, cinematography, editing, and score and overall ambience is really rich and meticulously thought out.  I am going to for once say that my not liking this film comes from a place I can not really quantify.  It comes down to a matter of taste.  So, for anyone who likes an interesting cast and a suspense driven plot line I would recommend it–even if only half heartedly.  The film does have an entertainment quality I just don’t know why it’s not gelling with me.   So for once, don’t take my word for it and see for yourself.

This was an excellent film I really did not see coming.  I remember seeing it in the theatres and just passing it by with little regard.  I have many of these regrets as my pocket and mind state sometimes stops me from experiencing great movies in the theatre.  I do regret to also admit that sometimes things look big on your TV screen and sometimes in a theatre will not illicit the same response.  It’s an unfortunate and almost inexplicable reality but we have all seen film that were better in the movie theatre and that aren’t as good when you buy the DVD.  Movies are funny that way and in exact opposite are films that are great on DVD (or video for nostalgic purposes) and in the theatre you just didn’t get it.  It’s wierd and quirky but true nonetheless.  Perhaps someone should to a dissertation on why this happens–maybe someone has and no one is reading it…let’s stop before the Catholic guilt gets me. 

The cast is amazing.  I never would have put this bunch together in my own mind but they worked out.  I don’t know how much of it is direction but I’m going to say that  Marcel Langeenegger really did a fantastic job at using this very individual group as a collective and putting it together seemlessly. Hugh Jackman is an amazing "bad guy" (in layman terms).  I really enjoyed disliking him in this movie.  And the interesting part is that at first you don’t like him for how put together the character is and how " cool" that guy he plays seems and then it shifts completely into hating him for compleletly justifiable reasons.   It’s interesting the perspective the director is taking.  He takes life in it’s most alienating form via Jonathan McQuarry’s (played by Ewan McGregor)and shows people a very stark example of what happens when good people engage in bad behaviour.  The director also puts forth the idea that the bad things you do in life don’t always make for a bad person–and that is where Michelle William’s portrayal of S comes into play as she is the truly redeemed character.  More than anyone else S really changes from beginning to end and finds a way back into the world of Jonathan.  It’s a beautiful story and hopeful one considering that it’s a thriller. 

The film looks and sounds great and the end of the film is really interesting because cinematographically it’s full of light.  I say no more!  Check out this DVD and for some reason I’m suggesting it as a date film as it does inspire the lingering want to be with someone at the end.

Well there you have it folks.  If you aren’t in love maybe this will help you fall in love.  But what ever you do don’t get drunk and call that ex significant someone and pour your heart out to
them needlessly.  It will only end badly and friends don’t let friends make really bad post-alcohol-romantic film induced decisions.

Much Love All & Happy Valentine’s Day.

It really is no wonder that TAKEN was number one at the box office this past weekend.  The film truly did deliver on all the action promised by the trailer.  This story of what a father will do to protect his child is a real tribute to what makes Luc Besson such a fantastic writer and teamed up with Pierre Morel it’s no wonder the film is the perfect combination of justified violence and thrilling displays of poetic justice.  Liam Neeson translates with (what appears to be) great ease the duality of a man who is both good and capable of horrendous things.  The beauty of this film is that all the despicable actions of this father are forgiven and in fact praised by the audience.   

This is a film about a father who despite his better judgement lets his adolescent daughter (Maggie Grace) go to Paris for the summer with a friend.  Upon her arrival she is abducted and quickly lost in the world of illegal human trafficking.  He has 96 hours before she will be lost forever.  This retired spy (Neeson) uses all his contacts, knowledge, and will to do what ever it takes to get his daughter back safely.  He embarks on a journey that takes him deep into the world of organized crime, sex slaves, and corruption all while waging war on the city of Paris indiscriminately.   Every performance in this film is exquisite and despite the action content it’s a real departure from The Transporter in every sense for Morel (who worked as Cinematographer on that picture)..The casting of Maggie Grace in this picture forgives Luc Besson of that awful casting error that almost entirely ruined Transporter 3 for me: Grace really is something to watch for.  She has a genuine innocence that transcends the screen, an trait most absent in her generation of actors–one I hope to see her make the most of in future projects.

Most people walking out of the film (especially men I found) were commenting on how they would do something similar to anyone who hurt their daughters.  I found this to be an extraordinary incident.  This is a film that truly touched on the exploitation of women while indicating the preservation of women simultaneously.  The film also does well to point out that society conducts itself under the distorted notion almost anything can be permitted so long as one feels no connection to the individual being exploited–what this film illustrates is that all those exploited women are someone’s daughter.  This idea really hit home with the audience I found and in some ways I felt that it resonated more with men than it did with women based solely on what I was hearing when walking out of the cinema.  The film also plays with the idea that although bad things happen to good people there can be those time when good people can do terrible things in the name of good.  The lines of morality are blurred yet one thing remains: the right thing was done in the end.  If everything else is lost on the audience watching this film one thing will find them no matter what:  the love of a parent for a child is rivalled by nothing in this world.  That and…don’t let your kids go to Paris alone–just a thought.

Release date: Friday January 30, 2009 Running time: 93 min. Director: Pierre Morel studio: Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Katie Cassidy, Holly Valance, Famke Janssen

Director: Paul Mc Guigan Starring: Paul Bettany, David Thewlins, Malcolm Mc Dowell, Saffron Burrows

This is the tantalizing tale of the rise and fall of a most vile and notorious gangster set in the extraordinary city of London in the late 1960’s.  Director Paul Mc Guigan (Wicker Park, Lucky Number Sleven) really does capture the inner most evil a human being has to offer.  He does so perfectly using the ingenious physicality of Paul Bettany (Young Gangster) along side the unnerving and calamitous voice of Malcolm Mc Dowell (Gangster 55).  Mc Dowell has the most interesting role as narrator for the most part of the film which really does make all of the despicable actions carried out by Bettany as the Young Gangster even more unsettling for the audience to watch simply because they have a very in depth sense of what the character is feeling i.e. internal monologue along side exterior reactions and actions.   All and all it’s quite amazing to watch the voice over at it’s best in this film.  I would go so far to say that when watching the intricacies of this particular plot unfold one can almost see in a not too distant future how it was Lucky Number Sleven came to be so exquisitely executed on film.  

The film begins at the present and works out to be a flash back of sorts as to how the gangster got to where he is today.  Would seem to be pretty standard come to think of it only what makes this film different is the uncanny use of voice over alongside some really impeccable dialogue and action sequences.  Not the conventional action sequences, but, long and difficult to watch action sequences.  You see people squeezed for juice by this gang of delinquents under Freddy Mays (David Thewlins), plotted against, and even murdered.  Freddy Mays is the gangster that runs the entire operation that the Young Gangster (Bettany) looks up to.  Quickly this admiration turns into obsession and a gruesome coveting of everything Freddy Mays has include position, power, and even his girl Karen (Saffron Burrows). The Young Gangster does everything in his power to destroy Freddy Mays and take his place in the world of crime, and he succeeds.  The rest of the film unravels itself in all the events that lead to the fall of Gangster 55.  Ultimately the ending is fitting and a well deserved end for the cruel and ruthless
gangster who deserves  nothing more or less than the lonely end he finds himself in.

This film is a definite must see not only for the great acting and impeccable story but also for the unique look the film
has.  I suggest watching it before watching Lucky Number Sleven just to get and idea of the evolution of this particular director in terms of the crime genre.

©www.anniegmovies.com

Release Date: Wednesday October 8, 2008 Genre: ActionRunning Time: 114 min. Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton, Mark Strong, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, Toby Kebbell, Jeremy Piven, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges 

RocknRolla is a movie about what happens when the old school meets the new school.  An intelligently written script a lot of people are comparing to Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels.  That’s too easy for my liking.  It’s easy to say that and so it’s been copped out to be a return to something when really it’s not. This film is the evolution of Guy Ritchie. 
It’s the combination of what Lock Stock had in terms of dark/criminal comedy with the very convoluted plot line of Revolver. It’s a nice balance of making people think about the nature of things while not making it hard for them to do so.  I really don’t think RocknRolla is going to get the credit it deserves artistically or commercially but I am sure it will have quite a cult following.  And I’m doubly sure that it’s characters will become staples of reference in years to come. 

The film is shot wonderfully and really makes you question what the hell Hollywood does with all that money when Ritchie is making something that looks so damn good for just 18 million dollars.  The entire cast is
amazing and in their own time they all get great lines and are equally but unequivocally magical in their performances. The two seasoned actors that are the gems in this film are Mark Strong (plays Archie and does a lot of narration) and Gerard Butler (plays One Two).  You really get to see these two in a light you’ve always wanted to see them but never really got the chance.  But the real beauty of the picture is the force of nature “Johnny Quid” brought to life by Toby Kebbell.  Now this is the real RocknRolla of the film.  Watching him in this film is frightening and fascinating all at once.  I’ve never been so intrigued by one actors versatility in a role that in reality he made interesting because on it’s own it’s just not all that interesting.   How interesting can a junkie rocker with step daddy issues be?  Watch RocknRolla and you’ll figure it out real fast. 

It really was worth lining up for and was a great finish to my festival experience. You should definitely look out for it October 31^st. I realize how dorky I sound but I can’t wait to buy the DVD…and I’m flirting with the idea of buying the soundtrack.  Damn you Guy Ritchie….damn you!

For more information check out the RocknRolla website